It may seem as though the announcement of Good and Sturdy Vintage’s move to a new downtown location dates further back than the merchandise the store sells. But, just like those ugly ’80s sweaters that are now considered hip, it is coming back and will be bigger – and have more patterns – than ever.

“I’m excited to see how customers who have been around since the beginning respond to the changes." – Jon Shemick, Good and Sturdy Vintage

Jon Shemick opened Good and Sturdy at 218 Water St. in 2012. The store sells mainly clothing, but also art, furniture, and a variety of curiosities that are no younger than the 1980s. A few antiques are available, this isn’t a traditional antique store.

“I have been a buyer and seller of old things for a long time,” Shemick said. “After moving to Eau Claire, I decided that there was a niche I could fill by opening the store.”

Shemick learned that the owner of the shop’s Water Street home planned to tear down the building, forcing him to relocate earlier this year to 217 N. Barstow St., a space close to Phoenix Park and the heart of downtown Eau Claire.

“It's challenging to find the right kind of space, and I am committed to keeping the store downtown,” Shemick said. “After months of searching, I’m happy to have found the new space on North Barstow and am looking forward to being settled again there.”

Shemick announced the move on Good and Sturdy’s Facebook page on March 1, and at the time he hoped the new shop would be ready in April. However, as of this writing, it remains unopened. According to Shemick, that is due to a few setbacks during the moving process, including a multi-week bout of pneumonia. Fortunately, he is well again and making progress with the new shop.

“The major store renovations are complete. I'm working on getting all of the smaller details in place now,” Shemick said, adding that the store likely will re-open in July.

Shemick is excited to re-open his shop as well as for all the possibilities that could come with a new location. “One positive aspect of the move for Good and Sturdy is that it gave me the opportunity to change some things that I didn’t love about the old space,” Shemick said. “I’m excited to see how customers who have been around since the beginning respond to the changes.”

Good and Sturdy Vintage • 217 N. Barstow St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-7999 • goodandsturdy.com • Find it on Facebook